The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-09-11

my head.
Tie him to tree, I wish him to see
all we intend to do before we hang
him." and his obedient followers
strapped me tightly with my back to
a tree. All this time his followers were
fitting in and out of the honse
carrying out beds and bedding, smash
ing furniture of all kinds, and Destroy
ing everything they could that was of g
perishable nature. The night was g
dark one, and the torches they had II
only seemed to make that darkness
more visible. l saw my wife
feeble with long continued sickness
dragged in her thin night-clothes, Out
Lilly was braveiy, but Intellectually
struggling in the arms of Thornton
himself. Oh! the agony of seeing this
and being Powerless to rescue, OF
avenge; no wonder that many of the
enmities born of such scenes took long
years to tone down, or assuaee.
Now then, my girl! I will give you
one more chance to save yourself and
your father" said Thornton. will
you promise to marry me?"
No! Oh, no." she moaned, 81 can
never marry you. love you not. Mar
riage without love would be but a
mockery."
Not so. 1 have loved you and would
compel your love in return. Give but
the word and l take the risk. [ restore
your mother and father to liberty and
leave your home unburned. If not
expect no mercy, and you shall be mine
anyhow"
I expected nothing short of death.
nor in my then desperate mood, did l
care for the worst their rage could do.
There are depths beneath. which we
cannot go in alarm and terror-there
are times when death itself loses all its
terrors. & thousand times would [
rather see a daughter of mine hurled to
death, than suffer the embraces of such
wretch. had worked my mouth free
and [ spoke out as | felt.
Never Lilly! Never! Let the villain
do his worst and defy him still. Let
our home go-let me die-die Yourself
anything honorable, however un-
fortunate, rather than life and pollution
with him."
An my rash friend, we will see,
how long your bravery will hold out.
Set fire TO the house boys-no use any
longer emporizing-bur the reptiles
out. Go some of you and cut some
hickory switches-we will give him
border law and justice beforesWe swing
him into the next world"
Ny wife had fallen into a. swoon
and lay on the ground little distance
away from me, no more noticed than
wounded dog would have been. NV
daughter vainly sought TO reach her
side, but could not break away from
her prosecutor. Soon the darkness of
the night was still more lit up, as the
house took fire and readily burnt up,
casting upon the night ara fiery
column that might be seen from miles
away. The men with the switches re-
turned, and L was put with my face to
tree and firmly dashed thereto after
my shirt had been torn from, my back.
Jack" cried Thornton to one of his
followers. stand ready to administer
the medicine when [ speak. Now my
dearest girl; what is your answer?
Will you see your father dashed ike a
hound, or will you give me one little
promise?' - 49,
"Oh, 1 cannot! I cannotp'
"YoH can't Rather see your father
whipped and then hanged-for hang him
l will See, your mother thrown to the g..
drunken men, and yourself-Well, wen
see after tire of you"
The scoundreI seemed fendlike
as he stood there in the
Pickering light of the
burning house, with the dark, sombre
aisles of the forest for background,
gloating in eager anticipation on the
Mortified girl. Whether she faltered or
would have done anything honorable
n "a OF
that way.
No! villain!" 1 shouted, "do thy
worst. Thy presence alone is pollution,
and hell will claim thee all too soon for
thy comfort"
Then have 1t so. my sapient friend;
if hell's my portion, will do devils
part that l have the chance"
[ saw with thankfulness that Lilly
had tainted and was now lying by the
side of her mother. l could not turn
my head but little way, and next mo-
ment came the little, supple, bending
hickory upon my bare back, and my
torture had commenced. l do not know
how long it continued, for they soon
barked me into inconsistencies, and
while in that state they strung me up
to a limb of the tree above. But
in the providence of God, / was
not to die at that time. The
bright light of the burning house had
guided other steps that were not wanted
in that direction to, and the first init
nation the raiders had of enemies was
q demand from the darkness of the sur
rounding woods, to throw up their
hands and surrender. Some were for
resisting, but the moment they made a
move in that direction a half dozen
rifles flashed and as many per-
sons fell wounded, or dead, ard
cowed whatever courage
the survivors had. 1 was in
stantly cut down and they found life
was not extinct, whilst my wife and
daughter by liberal application of
water were brought out of their swoon,
and happily to find themselves released
and in safety.
Thornton had been himself wounded
by the DISCHARGE from the invisible foe,
and his vexatIon and chagrin wsrs
greatly enhenced when he saw VINO had
snatched from him his prey. 1t was the
advance guard of Prices army under
Major James, and though Confederates,
the hopes of Thornton were but little
on that account. The course
pursued by the guerrilas and bush
had been such as TO
win the detestation and hatred of